The finding

Polish cohort (n = 38, 1-year follow-up, BMC Pediatrics): higher BMI trended toward better gross motor scores in SMA children; fine motor showed inverse pattern in sitters. Source: SMA News Today 2026-03-27.

Why it matters

Nutrition and body composition in SMA have been under-studied. The relationship is not straightforward — more mass helps gross motor but can hinder fine motor in sitters — so one-size-fits-all nutritional targeting is wrong.

Directly relevant to:

• Christian's digital twin where weight, 6MWT, and gait metrics already cross-plot
• Physical therapy recommendations
• Trial stratification variables (BMI as a covariate, not just SMN2 copy number)

Not a drug target in itself, but a confounder for every clinical trial and a lever for real-world management.